Apparatus for and method of making articles from a. fibrous composition



April 5 1927.

P. BEEBE I APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OP MAKING ARTICLES PROM A FIBROUsCOMPOSITION Filed Sept. 16, 1922 mvl-:NTOR

Pila. 55555 ATTOv 'EY vretained Apr. 5, 192i. l c 1,623,933

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL BEEBE, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COM-IE'ANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

APPARATUS FOB. AN D METHODI'OF MAKING ARTICLES FROM A FIBROUSCOMPOSITION. Application filed September 16, 1922. Serial No. 588,641.

My invention pertains to a novel type of quantity of liquid, havingsuspended therein 55 apparatus for, and a method of, making a quantityof' fibers, is forced into the mold articles from a fibrous composition,and it through the conduit 7 The liquid is passed has particularrelation to the manufacture ot' into the mold at a relatively low rateo' articles ofthe character designated in which speed. After beingadmitted to the mold,

it is desired that the vfibers be disposed in a the liquid flows to theporous side walls 3 6o definite predetermined arrangement. and passestherethrough, leaving the fibers The object of my invention is toprovide disposed in engagement therewith. The

a novel apparatus for, and method of. fibers may initially engage thescreen in a producing material of the character above position'perpendicular thereto, However.l

designated, by molding, and which shall the pressure of the slowlymoving material obviate the wastage of material. in the mold graduallyforces the fibers Heretofore, it has been customary, in the down inplanes substantially perpendicular manufacture of fibrous materialadapted for to the plates 2." Thus the fibers are forced 15 use as solesof shoes, to manufacture the mafrom their initial position before anyother terial in large sheets and to eut the soles fibers are disposed inside-by-side engagetherefrom. On account of the irregular ment therewithto render any support shape of soles, this method has resulted inthereto. the wastage of a relatively large proportion The liquid isforced into the mold through 'l0 of the material. By my invention I havethe conduit 7 until the enti-re mold is filled provided a method ofmanufacture which with the fibrous material, the liquid in whicheliminates this wastage, and also produces a the material was suspendedhaving passe material in which the fibers are disposed in through thescreen wall 8. Owing to the planes substantially perpendicular to theslow movement of the liquid, the fibers will i5 wearing surface, thusproviding a material yall be arranged in planes perpendicular to of verygood wearing qualities. The present the plates 2, and thus normally tothe ultiinvention is practiced preferably in conmate wearing surface oft-he sole. junction with the process disclosed in my It will be apparentfrom this description copending application Serial Number 622,- hat theentire mass of fibers will be collected :i0 453. f and formed into asole Without any wastage In the accompanying drawings: whatsoever. Alsoit will be obvious that Fig. l is a, perspective View 0f a mold thefibers Wlll be arranged lll aVoItiCul pOSiwhich l employ in practicingmy invention; tion with respect to the top and bottom of and the sole,which provides a very good wear- ?5 Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, onanr en-v ing surface and oli'ers a `very high resistance larged scale,illustrating the disposition of to the splitting of the material intolayers. the fibers in the finished product. After the molded fibers areremoved from The mold consists of two spaced sheet the mold, they aresubjected` to pressure apmetal members 2, each of which is of a simpliedon the top and bottom thereof to com- 40 ilar contour to the article itis desired to press the same to the desired thickness. The

form, in this instance a shoe sole. The pressure on the ends of thefibers causes a plates 2 are connected together by means of portion ofthem to bend and buckle, as illusa porous or screen member il, whichengages trated at 8 in 2, thusproviding addithe entire periphery of themembers 2, The tional interlockmgand feltxng of' the fibers.

L plates 2 are held in their proper position "his serves to increase thetearing Strength with respect to each other b v means of supof thematerial without injuring its wearporting members 4 disposed thereaboutin ing qualities. spaced relation, which are provided with Yule I haveillustrated only one form latches 6 disposed at each end thereof. whichmy invention may assume and have 50 One of the supports 4 has associatedtheredescribed in detail but a single application with a conduit 7 whichopens into the mold thereof, it will be obvious those s illed in 105 andcommunicates with a tank or container, the art that it is not so.limited, but lthat not shown, for the fibrous material. lVith variousminor modifications and changesv the latches 6 in theiry lockedpositions a may bemade therein Without departing from the spirit of myinvention or from the scope -A of lthe appended claims.

lll

What I claim is:

l. Apparatus for making molded articles which comprises two spacednonporous plates of contour similar to the article to be formed, saidplates being connected at the edges by means of 'a screen.

2. Apparatus for making ay shoe sole which comprises two spacednon-porous plates of contour similar to a shoe sole, said plates beingconnected at the edgesby means of a ourous member.

3. i pparatus for making a shoe sole which comprises two spacednon-porous plates having a contour similar to that of a shoe sole, saidplates being connected together at the edges by means of a screen, andmeans for admitting a liquid into the mold. v

4. A method of forming a fibrous leather substitute from a suspension offibrous ma ferial that comprises depositing suspended material on a.foraminous surface disposed perpendicularly to the Wearing surface ofthe fibrous product.

5. A method of making artificial leather material consisting ofrubberized fibrous4 .the product, thereby depositing the fibers l 1nplanes perpendicular to the wearing surface of the product andvulcanizing the' deposited product.

6. The method of making shoe soles from fibrous material which com risesforcing a. quantity of liquid havinghbers suspended therein through ascreen of relatively fine mesh disposed in -planes substantiallyperpelndicular to the wearing surface of the shoe so e. f

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

PAUL BEEBE.

